BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals2007 BPS

BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007

BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007 • Legislation Psychologists must adhere to the legal requirements of the country they are working in. Psychologists have to be aware of endangered species or threatened species and act appropriately. Research must be prefaced with a covering letter stating this.

BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007 • Replacing use of animals Videos and computer simulations have to be used where possible. Ideal for teaching situations. e. g. Ratlife and Sniffy the Rat

BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007 • Choice of species and strain Species should be carefully chosen to ensure effectiveness with minimal suffering-knowledge of species and history of individual animals vital Choices have to be justified on project licence application Different strains of rodents are physiologically different and need to be chosen carefully. Transgenic mice may be used as no harm to organism is observed.

BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007 • Number of animals 1986 Act-legally required to use smallest number of animals possible National Centre for 3 Rs (Replacement, Refinement and Reduction) can provide advice on how the use of better methodologies/designs and statistical analysis can help achieve this.

BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007 • Procedures Project licence Registered establishment Personal licence Local ethical review process (Committee) Home Office Identify costs to animals in reports/journals

BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007 • Procedures (contd) Housing- caging needs to take into account the social behaviour of species Reward, deprivation, aversive stimulation- periods of deprivation of food should be short and species specific Aggression and predation- natural encounters preferable if staged animals should be protected Fieldwork- should not disturb the ecosystem or interrupt species reproduction and survival Anaesthesia, analgesia and euthanasia- animals should have access to pain relief and be destroyed humanely if suffering

BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007 • Procurement Home Office Designated Breeding and Supply Establishments. Wild caught animals- refer to ASAB website

BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007 • Animal Care Housing and husbandry conditions must be within guidelines Captive animals should be kept in conditions closely resembling their natural conditions as much as possible Need to foster habituation to minimise stress Animal care personnel must be trained

BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007 • Disposing of animals Distribute to other colleagues if deemed possible by home office If disposed of- it must be done humanely Death must be confirmed before disposal Vets must be consulted

BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007 • Animals in psychology teaching Teachers have a responsibility to educate pupils on ethical issues Coursework on animals may be possible but tests to show known facts are prohibited Use of film/video should be encouraged Undergraduates must work within a project licence Post graduates need personal licence

BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007 • Use of animals for therapeutic purposes Pet dogs as co therapists Horse riding for disabled Prison pet keeping schemes Temperament and training of animal must be considered as well as its welfare Animals should have opportunity to retreat

BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007 • Clinical Assessment and treatment of animal behaviour Dog whisperers! Guidelines issued by ASAB ( Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour)